Floyd VanHooser, who accused former Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine of molesting him more than 40 years ago, said he fabricated the claim in a letter to the Syracuse Post-Standard.
VanHooser—who viewed Fine as a father figure—fabricated the story because Fine didn’t hire an attorney to help him fight criminal charges, according to the letter. VanHooser is currently serving a prison sentence of 16 years to life for burglarizing homes while being a repeat offender.
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In the Post-Standard’s original report, VanHooser accused Fine of molesting him over a four decade span starting in 1969. VanHooser was the fourth person to come forward saying that he had been sexually molested by Fine at an early age.
The allegations of the first three accusers led to Fine’s dismissal as the Syracuse associate head basketball coach on Nov. 27. Fine was in his 36th season with SU.
No criminal charges have been filed against him. Previously, a statement issued by Fine called the allegations of the first two accusers “patently false.”
